Process of recovering by-products from coals



July 6 W. E. TRENT PROCESS 0F RECOVERING BY-PRODUCTS FROM GOALS FiledMarch 18, 1922 WIM' @mi lWim www WM@ M Patented duly 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. TRENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO TRENTPROCESS CORPORATION, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORA-TION OF DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF RECOVERING :BY-PRODUCTS FROM GOALS.

Application led March 18, 1922. Serial N o. 544,906.

The invention relates lto the art of byproduct distillation.

It is an object of the invention to remove by-products from carbonaceousmaterials such as comminuted coals, by passingheating gases through aseries of formed filles extending through a mass of the coal, wherebythe .heat vaporizes volatile constituents, which constituents aredischarged as vapors and gases through a series of independentnon-communicating vapor discharge passageways formed in the mass. Thevapors passing from the passageways are collected and are notdiluted-with the heating gases, while the residuemay be either acarbonized productor a fused product containing certain volatileconstituents.

With the foregoing conception in mind, the inventionpreferably consistsin forming in a mass of comminuted coal, or the like, a plurality offlues extending therethrough, and through which heating gases pass sothat the applied heat penetrates the carbonaccous material and vaporizes`all or part of the volatiles contained therein. In the mass I alsoforma second series of vapor and gas discharge passageways locatedbetween heating lues, 'but entirely out of free communication with saidflues whereby the vaporized volatiles driven out of the mass by t epenetrating heat enter said discharge passageways and pass thereto fordelivery to a receiver. The gas discharge fiues are preferably closed atone end so as to be out of free communication with the heating ues andat the other end they connect with a common as discharge outlet. The'heating gases mtroduced to the flues may come 1n direct contact withthe walls thereof, or said gases may be passed through"metallic .orrefractory liners inserted in the flues so as to apply an indirect heatto. the mass and thereby positively prevent, when necessary, any and allpossible commingling of the heating gases with the gas and vaporproducts. In either instance the volatiles will be rapidly vaporized andgasiied and said volatiles thus driven out of the mass enter the gasdischarge passageways out of communication with the heating flues.

The plurality of heating dues with the adjacent gas flues permitapplying the heat more or less uniformly to the entire charge at thesame time, which causes a very rapid carbonization of the mass andpermits the easy and rapid escape of the resulting gases underconditions that prevent the mixing of the heating gases with the productgases which results in gases of a high heat and light value. In order tofacilitate the removal of the vapors and gases, vacuum or suction isapplied to the gas discharge passageways. This suction, beside makingrapid removal of the vapors, prevents the volatile products fromdischarging back -into the heating flues.

Heat may be applied to the heating flues by burning combustible gases inthem with air and then after the temperature has been raised air may beadmitted which will cause the burning of part of the carbon surroundingthe holes, thus generating the heat to nish the operation.

During the heating u period of a fresh charge, by burning com ustiblegases some of the volatile of the charge will-escape with 'the heatinggases and these may be removed by scrubbing before these gases aredischarged or dispensed with. When the charge becomes sufficiently hotthe heating gases, on account of the presence of the heated carbon, willleave the generator as combustible gases as the CO2 will, to a largeextent, be reduced and form CO and when this gas becomes suflicientlycombustible, by reason of the charge having a temperature that willcause the reaction, these gases will be saved and broughtV back to carryon the heating operation,at'least, during the first part of thetreatment, 1

When it is desirable to increase the heating value 'of the combustiblegases, formed in the heating lues, steam may be introduced with the airin controlled quantities and by its decomposition form a certain amountof blue water gas.

lt is a further object ofthe invention to provide, when desirable, amixing of gases from the heating lues with the vapors -and gasesdischarging from the discharge lues. This is for the purpose of makingan enriched water gas vwhich is done in the following manner: heat isapplied to the heating lues by burning combustible gases or by burningpart of the charge withair.

When the carbon surrounding the heating lues becomes incandescent, steamis admitted to the heating lines which decomposes, forming hydrogen andcarbon monoxide gas or ordinary blue water gas. This gas is hyassed fromthe ordinary outlet so that it is introduced to and commingles `with thevagors and gases from the discharge outlets.

he blue water gas, having a very high temperature, causes a cracking ofdischarge vapors into fixed gases thereby making a. rich gaseousmixture. The condensable products can be removed from this gas in theusual manner and the resulting gas is similar in all respects to theordinary carbureted water gas from standard watergas sets.

ln the preferred embodiment of my invention the gases passing throughthe lues are of suilicient temperatures to vaporize substantially all ofthe volatile constituents that pass out through the non-communicatinggas passageways leaving a product consisting principally of coke. In amodified embodiment of my invention, however, the temperature of thegases passing through the lines, may be so controlled that, instead ofvaporizing substantially all of the volatiles and leavin@ a coke'residue, only a portion of the volatiles are vaporized and thecarbonaceous mass fused together with a substantial quantity of volatilesubstances. Such a process is practiced when it is desii-ed to form aresidue consisting of a fused product containing a substantial quantityof volatile substances which residue forms, Jfor some purposes, adesirable fuel.

In the accompanying drawings I have.

shown a single embodiment of this invention, but it will be understoodthat sucha showing is merely made for the purpose of illustration andmay be radically changed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of aretort having ay charge therein;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a. charge on a reduced scale; and,

Figure 3 discloses a vertical sectional view of a charge havinginterposed liners in the heating dues.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates aretort which is seated on a 1oase 2 and is provided with a removablecover or closure 3 united to the retort by a water seal 4. rilhe upperpartot the base 2, designated by the character 5 ot the retort l, isprovided with channels 6 extending therein and adapted to receive gaspipes 7 provided with burner nozzles 8 projecting into the heating duesl2. ?assages 9 exnegarse tend through the upper part of the base 5 andcommunicate with the volatile discharge iues 13 to be later described.

In accordance with invention l take a mass of comminuted coal, shale, orother carbonaceous bearing material and form the mass into a lcharge l1,as shown in Figure 2. This charge is formed by placing the mass in acontainer o r the like, and molding therein the heating flues 12extending entirely therethrough, and the gas discharge passageways 13,which are closed at their upper ends, but open at the lower ends thereofand in registry with the passages 9. The

conimiiiuted material that is to be molded in a charge with preformedpassageways 12 and 13 therein is preferably mixed with al binder such ashydrocarbon oil so that the charge will retain its shape when placedwithin a retort. be employed for forming the tlues 12 and passageways 13in the charge, or the said charge may be formed with the passageways inany other satisfactory manner.

It will be noted, however, that the passageways 12 and 13 are out ofcommunication, and that a gas discharge passageway 13 is disposedbetween a pair of heating llues l2. The heating fines l2 may haveinserted therein thin metallic, or refractory, liners l2 extendingthroughout the length thereof and in contact with the walls of thecharge when it is desired to completely prevent direct contact of theheating gases issuing from the burners 8 with any of the carbonaceousproducts, and when the charge is without binder and will not permit themolding of holes that will stay open during the treatment. Likewise,when the charge is too loose to permit of molding discharge openings 13perforated pipes or hollow molds 13 with pcrforations 14 are used in thedischarge passages as shown in Figure 3, and then the discharged vaporsand gases ind their way into their outlets through the perforations.However, for most purposes the use of the liners will not be needed andthe heat will be applied directly to the walls of the material.

When the by-products are to be removed :trom a charge, as shown inFigure 2, the charge is inserted in the retort 1, and gaseous productsof combustion issuing from the burners 8 pass through the fiues 12. Thegases transmit their heat directly to the walls of the flues l2, or passthrough thin liners 12 when used. The heat of these gases rapidlypenetrates the relatively small area of material 14C disposed betweenadjacent heating ilucs l2 and gas discharge passageways 13, causing avery rapid vaporization of all or part of the volatiles contained in thesmal] area ot material between adjacent heating llues and gas dischargepassageways i3.

Removable mandrels may rflic heat drives the vola' tiles in thedirection indicated by arrow X from the material directly in to thepassageways 13 where said .vapors and gases pass inthe? direction of thearrows Y down v through said passageways through the openings 9 and outthrough the gasA discharge flue 10 to a point of collection v*While theheatinggases discharge through the flues 12 and discharge :to stack 15and through the two-waydischarge valve 15 passing through pipe 16 tocondensing apparatus 17 where the condensable contents of the gases arecondensed anddischar e throu h l valve 18. The fixed gases pass t rou ht e pipe 182 to the suction pu mp.183 an then from this pump the gaseslow in B. t. u.

` are discharged through valve 18i and the grade gases must be obtained.

combustible gases are discharged through valve 18 into the gas holder19. The combustible gas, from the gas holder, finds an outlet throughpipe l2O, controlled by valve 21, connecting to the burner pipes 7' andan air inlet `22. The'air inlet is controlled by a valve 23 connectedwith the ipe 20 for admitting the proper amount o air to burn ther gasesor to admit` the air when air alone is suiicient to cause ignition ofpreviously heated charge.'

The general operation results in a most rapid by-product distillation of'the coal, and in vview 'of the fact that the flues 12 are out of directcommunication with the passageways .13, the distilled products do notintermingle with the heatmg roducts of combustion, which interming lngwould cause a dilution of the .vaporized volatiles. Such a dilutionis,not desirable where high A suction pump 16 communicates with the gasdischarge 10 and when the process is being practiced this pump is inoperation, creating .a suction in the gas t1passageways 13, which tendsto accelerate e vaporization of the volatiles in the carbonaceousmaterial, andalso causes a most rapid discharge of the gases enteringthe gas passageways 13. The discharge pipe 162 of the suction pump 16delivers the gas and vapors to condensing and scrubbing apparatus of theconventional type and the gas is then lsent to a gas holder, not shown,for dis-Y tribution or use. When water gas 1s belng manufactured and thesuction fan' 16 is drawing a mixture of blue water gas withv descentcondition by the passage of air through the line 22, this supply of airis then discontinued and steam admitted throu h this Asame line. It willfurthermore e appreciated that when water gas is being made thebriquette contains no liners as shownin the modified disclosurein Figure3. When the water gas is not being made the two-way valve 1s closedagainst the discharge pipe 24 and opens to a dis charge pipel 16.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that two types of gases may besimultaneously generated in this system. One type in the ues 12, whichwhen burned in the tubes forms the necessary heat to generate the secondtype of gas which has outlets throu h the passageways 13. The first isafter e order of a producer gas of low heating value and the second-isafterthe order of' either a carbureted water gas or coal retort Thematerial is treated in the :foregoingmanner by the heating gasescontrolled in a regulated temperature sothat Substantially all ofthevolatiles may be'driven out of a charge, leaving a residue consistingprincipally of coke, or the temperature of the heating gases and thetime of the treatmentl may be controlled so that only a ortion of thevolatiles are vaporized and driven from the mass, while the carbonaceousparticles are fusedtogether, containing a substantial uantity ofvolatile substances. The gas ischarge passageways 13 are arranged so asto discharge downwardly which`will cause a natural-.drainage of anyliquid products that may be driven from thel car onaceous mass.

The present invention relates to a process by which by-products orv1volatiles may be readily removed from comminuted carbonaceousmaterial, as well as a process for rapidly producing two grades of gasessimultaneously. In other words, a gas of the producer type may be madeby the burning caf the fuel surrounding the fines, which gas iscollected in the lreceiver19 and the heat generated by such` combustionof the fuel drives volatiles into the passageways 13, .which volatilesand any contained condenser products constitute high grade coal gaspassing to any scrubber or receiver and undiluted with the gases ofcombustion passing through the iiues 12.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: p

1. A process for recovering volatiles from commnuted carbonaceousmaterial, consisting in;l forming the ,comminuted carbonaceous materialinto .a briquet having aseries of formedpassageways therein, in passingheating gases through certain of said passageways, to vaporize volatilescontained in the carbonaceous-material, and in dischargingA thevolatiles from other passageways out of communication with thepassageways receiving such heating gases.

2. A process for removing volatile constituents from comminuted coal,consisting informing a briqueto comminuted coal with a plurality ofheating liues and a-'Series of adjacent discharged passageways out ofopen communication with the heating flues, lin applying heat to theWalls of the tlues to vaporize volatile substances contained in thecomminuted coal, and in discharging such vaporized constituents from thebriquet through the discharge passageways, Without permitting suchconstituents to substantially commingle With-the heating gases.

3. A process for removing volatiles from briquets of comminutedcarbonaceous material having a series of heating flues and a series ofdischarge passageways formed therein, comprising applying heat to theWalls of the heating lues in said briquet to vaporize the volatilescontained therein, and in discharging such volatiles from the briquetthrough said passageways out of open communication with the heatinglues.

4. A process for removing volatiles from comminuted carbonaceousmaterial, consisting in mixing the comminuted carbonaceous material Witha binder, in formi a briquet from said material having a p urality oflues and gas dischargin passageways therein, in applying heat to t eWalls of said flues to vapQrize volatiles contained in the, carbonaceousmaterial, and in discharging such volatiles through said gas dischargepassageways formed in said briquet.

5. A process for recovering volatiles from briquets of coniminutedcarbonaceous material having a series of formed heating lues and gasdischarging passageways, consisting in applying heating ases to thewalls of said liues to Vaporize vo atiles contained inthe carbonaceousmaterial, and in discharging said volatiles through said passage- Wayswithout permitting the same to intermingle with the heating gases.

6. A process for recovering volatiles from a briquet of comminutedcarbonaceous material having separately formed iues and passagewaystherein, comprising heating the Walls of the iues sufficient to ignite aportion of 'the fuel mass thereof to generate heat to vaporize volatilesin the briquet, and in discharging such volatiles through said formedassageways Without permitting interming ing thereof with heating gasesin said lues.

7. A process lfor recovering products from briquets of comminutedcarbonaceous material having a series of separately formed liues andpassageways therein, consisting in heating the Walls of said iues by theapplication of heating gases thereto in indirect heat conductive contactWithgsuch Walls to vaporize volatiles 'in the briquet, and indischarging such volatiles through said passageways Without comminglingwith the heating gases 'in said heating flues.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature'.

WALTER E. TRENT.

